Who painted Charles De Lorme?

Charles De Lorme was painted by Jacques Callot in 1630.

Where can I see Charles De Lorme?

Charles De Lorme is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Charles De Lorme?

Charles De Lorme is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Charles De Lorme

Jacques Callot , 1630

Charles De Lorme is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

The artist used lines to create deep shadows and texture, almost like carving with a pen.

This image is a black-and-white drawing packed with symbols. At the center sits a man’s face inside a circle. Around him, shapes like shields and triangles hold words in different languages. Strange creatures—half-animal, half-human—hide in the corners. Tiny scenes show people at work or in battle. The whole thing looks like a puzzle.

The text at the bottom names the man as Charles De Lorme, a doctor. The drawing was made in 1630 as a way to honor him. The artist used lines to create deep shadows and texture, almost like carving with a pen.

Want to know more? Try looking up etching to see how artists like this made prints.

Overview

Jacques Callot, a French printmaker active in the early seventeenth century, produced an etching titled Charles De Lorme in 1630. Executed on laid paper, the work is a black‑and‑white image that combines portraiture with a dense network of symbolic elements, presenting the subject within a circular frame surrounded by heraldic and linguistic motifs.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is identified as Charles De Lorme, a physician of the period, whose likeness is placed within a circle that emphasizes his status. Encircling the portrait are shields, triangles and multilingual inscriptions, suggesting a scholarly or commemorative purpose, while the inclusion of hybrid creatures and miniature scenes of labor and combat adds layers of allegorical meaning.

Technique & Style

Callot employs his characteristic fine line work to render intricate textures and deep shadows, creating a sculptural quality with pen‑like strokes. The etching demonstrates his skill in rendering complex compositions on a single sheet, using cross‑hatching and varied line density to model forms and suggest depth across the crowded visual field.

History & Provenance

Created in 1630, the print forms part of Callot’s prolific output of more than a thousand etchings that document contemporary figures and events. While the exact ownership trail is unclear, the work reflects the artist’s practice of honoring notable individuals through detailed, emblematic prints that served both portraiture and didactic functions.